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Monday, August 1

Wayne Rooney expects rejuvenated Man Utd to challenge for title

Manchester United have been rejuvenated under new
manager Jose Mourinho and are poised to mount a strong challenge for the
Premier League title, skipper Wayne Rooney has said.

The 30-year-old forward, who secured his fifth league
title with the club the last time they won it in 2013, scored eight top
flight goals last season as United finished fifth and failed to qualify
for the Champions League.

The 20-times English title winners have already signed
striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Henrikh Mkhityaran and defender
Eric Bailly and according to local media reports, have been negotiating
with Juventus over the transfer of Paul Pogba.

"I think the players feel this is more like the old
Manchester United. It's not just the new signings, we've got Anthony
Martial and Marcus Rashford from last season who made such an impact,"
Rooney told the Daily Mail in an interview.

Rooney, who will line up against boyhood club Everton
in his testimonial at Old Trafford on Wednesday, also hopes United can
secure the annual Community Shield against English champions Leicester
City at Wembley on Sunday.

"We're in a very good spot now, we think we can
challenge for the Premier League, and we want to put a marker down, in
the Community Shield with Leicester," Rooney added.
"I know it's a one-off game, but we want to show we can
win a trophy early on... we feel that's an important event for us."

United, who thrashed Turkish side Galatasaray 5-2 in a
friendly on Saturday, open their league campaign with a trip to
Bournemouth on Aug. 14.